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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Represent, v. Also: -ant. P.t. also represent. [ME and e.m.E. represente(n (Wyclif), p.p. also represent (16–17th c.), F. représenter (1175 in Larousse), L. repræsentāre.] tr.

1. a. To render (service). b. To give or present (a letter) to someone.a. c1420 Wynt. v Prol. 46.
pres. Thir are the twa gret lychtis … That oysis for to represent And to mynystyr thare serwys Tyme be tymeb. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 129.
p.t. Thisbe … To Rhamnusia the missiue represent Fra the assise with curage courteslie

2. To bring vividly or clearly before the mind the image of a person, action, etc. 1375 Barb. i 18.
For auld storys that men redys [Repre]sentis [1571 Representis] to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lywyt ar 1611-57 Mure II 11/300.
They'le surely trust these men, So naive-lie represented by thy pen

b. To communicate (a matter) to (vnto) a person. 1549 Facs. Nat. MSS III xxiv.
The said erle desyris thir articlis to be representit vnto the King of Frances maieste

c. To put (a fact) to a person in clear or vivid terms in order to bring him to share a particular point of view. 1646 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 62.
To represent and show to them the distressed and desolat caice of this toun 1678 Turner Mem. App. 273.
His appearance at that nick will furnish Lawderdaill subject to represent to the king groundles feares 1689 Acts IX 45/1.
The Estates … doe represent that the Committee of Parliament called the Articles is a great greivance to the nation, and [etc.]

d. To state or make clear. 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 78.
Whereas Johne Maxwell … hes represented to us his kyndlie interest to the Abbacie of Dundrennan [etc.] 1689 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 126.
James Thomson … represanted to the dickin … that he was sansable off his falt in [etc.]

3. To speak of a person as fulfilling a certain function or relationship.Const. for the function performed. 1513 Doug. vii i 53.
And to this Fawnus fader was alssua Picus the kyng, quhilk doith thé represent, Saturnus, for hys fader and parent

4. To show or reveal to the eye; to manifest. a1578 Pitsc. I 25/11.
Gif he representit the samyn arrogance that his father did wsse of befoir c1590 J. Stewart 23/296.
Scho represents hir fair excellent face, As goddes brycht appeiring in that place

5. a. To impersonate or act the part of (a character) on the stage. b. To reproduce an action or event by performance.a. 1503 Edinb. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 178.
A scarfawst … wher was represented Paris and the Thre Deessysb. 1581 Burne Disput. 45.
That ȝe vil not represent his [sc. Christ's] death in offering of this sacrifice commemoratiue c1590 Fowler II 109/31.
Studying to represent alwyes … his notablest actions sa far and neir as he can, as Alexander did in follouing Achilles

6. Of a thing: To symbolise, denote, stand for (a person or thing).Also, once, with double object. 1456 Hay I 283/21, etc.
The thrid colour is asure the quhilk be his figure … representis the ayer 1490 Irland Mir. MS fol. 227b.
He has … ordand sacramentis that are … corporale to represent his bodely nature and humanite 1494 Loutfut MS 38b.
Thai [sc. garnets, etc.] … ar all rond & of a metall quhilk representis the warld be thare roundnes Ib. 39b.
Escharbukle … signifies at he that first bure it in armes wes a man … representand the lycht to lichtyng and confort folkis that ar in merknes; … and full of all honorable riches and representande riall maieste a1500 Bk. Chess 2023.
The sydis of this chekker set on hicht Sall represent the tovnis wallis wicht c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 110/71.
The sueird of conquis … Be borne suld highe before thé in presence, To represent sic man as thou has beyn 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 91.
Ane other place quhilk purgator representis 1535 Stewart 31189.
To represent the tuelf apostolis … Tuelf images into that kirk he maid 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 76.
I may … expone this precept be ane figure signifeing ane mair excellent thing nor it representis exteriorlie 1611 Reg. Panmure I xcv.
And thearfor ar set towardis the east as representine the … infancie of the world — a1500 Bk. Chess 1387.
The trowall … All masoun craft it sall ȝow represent

7. To take the place of (another person) as his substitute or deputy; to be a properly accredited representative of a community. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 21/18.
For the confessour representis the person of God 1494 Loutfut MS 5b.
The marschaillis ar ane office quhilk pertenis til haue … the governance of the sammyn for thai represent the counstable 1508 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 137.
The prouoist bailȝeis counsaill & comminte … representand the haill body 1517 Acts XII 37/2.
We underwrittin spirituale and temporale and Commissionaris of Burrowis representing the thre Estatis of Scotland a1578 Pitsc. I 128/31.
And spetiallie in king or prince that representtis the werie devyne maiestie of God 1592 Acts (1597) ii 123b.
That na … letters of horning sall be generallie directed against all and sindrie, except it be against ane burgh, college, or communitie quhilk representis an bodie

b. specif. In law: To become a legatee in place of a deceased parent. 1664 Rothesay B. Rec. 81.
The saids Marie and Katherein Campbells to be servit and retourit as ane of thrie airs portioners as representan the said umquhile Issobell thair mother to … Archibald Campbell 1681 Stair Inst. iii iv § 4.
The right of representation whereby the issue of the defunct children represent them, and come in with the surviving children to get that share which their defunct parent would have got if alive